Willamette graduate to compete in second Olympics

Former Bearcat Nick Symmonds '06 is heading to his second Olympics after winning the 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

It was the fifth straight national championship in the 800m for Symmonds, whose finished with a time of 1:43.92 and earned a spot on the U.S. team in London.

The Willamette University chemistry graduate runs for Nike/Oregon Track Club Elite. He also competed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where he advanced to the semifinals.

Symmonds' winning time at the 2012 trials was the fastest time by an American at Hayward and was just 0.16 away from his personal best of 1:43.76, set in Italy in 2010.

As a runner at Willamette, Symmonds achieved seven NCAA Division III national titles: four in the 800-meter run and three in the 1,500-meter run. The London Olympics will mark his fifth international championship event.